Everything You Need to Know About Working with a Web Designer – Part Three – Getting Started with Your Web Designer
By this point, you should be prepared for working with your designer, and you have probably contacted your chosen designer and are ready to get started on your project. In case you didn’t realize, those links are hints that you should read those two posts before reading this one!
This third post in the Everything You Need to Know About Working with a Web Designer series will go over the basics of getting started with the designer you chose, what to expect, and what not to expect. Trust me, you’ll be glad you read this post!
What the Designer will Expect from You
These items may not be expected by every designer, but these are things you should be prepared for. After you’ve received and accepted the estimate from your designer, the designer might require any or all of the following (and maybe some things I don’t cover here):
1. A contract – Most designers will require a signed (or acknowledged in some form) contract before work begins. The contract will most likely outline the project details, estimated costs, timeline, terms and conditions for work, information on kill fees (I’ll discuss this a bit later), and any other information the designer needs you to know. Don’t be scared of signing a contract, but make sure you read it thoroughly and you understand the points. Don’t sign or acknowledge anything you aren’t comfortable with, and be sure to talk to your designer if there’s anything you’re unsure about. A good designer will explain and help you understand.
2. A deposit - Pretty much every designer I know requires some type of money upfront. This is a protection for the designer, but it also ensures that your project gets a place on their calendar. Some designers require payment in full upfront (which I do for projects under a certain dollar amount). If you aren’t comfortable with that, talk to your designer about it. They may be willing to be flexible, or you may need to find a designer that can meet your financial needs. Just be sure to communicate with the designer if you aren’t able to make a payment. There’s nothing that turns a relationship sour faster than bad communication – and that goes for both sides of the relationship.
Some designers like checks, others prefer PayPal, some even take credit cards. Just ask what the preferred method of payment is and pay on time! You don’t want your project to be delayed.
(Please note, some designers and developers charge for the discussion phase and some do not. Be sure to ask your designer upfront if they charge for consultation and planning.)
3. Direction – The designer probably got a lot of direction during your brief, but they may require a bit more. Please do not expect your designer to pull ideas out of thin air. They are creative, but that doesn’t mean they can slap something online and call it good. You will need to explain what you want clearly and concisely, and it may help to show the designer examples of what you like. But, if you’ve completed the proper preparation steps, this should not be an issue!
4. Time - Yep. It takes time to create wonderful things. If your project was quoted that it would take 5 hours, don’t expect that 5 hours to be completed in one day. To help maintain sanity, designers spread their projects out over a period of days, weeks, or even months, for larger projects. Your designer may work 30 minutes per day, or 3 hours per day. It really depends on the designer and the project.
It’s ok to check in with the designer if you feel adequate time has passed, but don’t be pushy. The designer has just as much right to kill a project as you do, contract allowing. A good designer will communicate and keep you informed about the project. If you’ve chosen a good one, you shouldn’t have to worry.
Keep in mind, though, that most designers are very busy and are, at any given time, working on several projects at once. They may forget to do a task or forget to communicate about something once in a while. It doesn’t mean they’re a bad designer. Everyone makes mistakes.
5. Feedback – Once your designer has completed part of a project, they will probably ask for your feedback. Well, they should, at least! Be honest. Most designers do not take negative feedback personally if it isn’t presented to them in an offensive way. Good designers take negative feedback as an opportunity to improve upon their work and elevate your customer service experience. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you really want. If they can’t do it, they’ll tell you. If they can do it, they will. Being honest and thorough in your feedback can save you time and money – and can foster a healthier relationship between you and your designer.
What You Should Expect from Your Designer
1. Honesty – If a designer is going to outsource part of your project to another firm or individual (such as shopping cart development), the designer should inform you of this. Some designers don’t, but I think it’s a good idea because if the sub-contractor relationship goes bad, you need to know that there might be a delay on your project. Besides, I would want to know who has access to my web space and branding information. I think it’s good practice. Ask your designer if they will be outsourcing. Don’t be alarmed if they are because this just means they are able to offer more services to you, but it’s a good think to be aware of.
(As a side note, do not try to go behind the designer’s back to hire someone they outsourced. This is bad practice and can often cause drama and bad feelings. Even if you aren’t happy with your designer, wait until the project is complete to hire anyone else to work on it – unless, of course, you and the designer agree about hiring someone.)
2. Timely work – The designer should do their best to complete things in a timely fashion. If this isn’t happening, you may need to discuss this with the designer. Don’t be afraid; just be honest.
3. Communication – Because of the nature of the design business, and because many freelancers and small firm owners work from home, some designers are not available by phone. Please respect this. As someone who works from home, I find it difficult to take calls when my my 8-month-old is screaming in the background. It’s not professional and I don’t like doing it. Email communication should be wide open, though. Email leaves a great virtual paper trail, and I use it to keep track of requested changes, additions, feedback and comments. It’s the year 2010. Get on the email bandwagon.
Chatting online is also great, and I often use Skype to discuss project details or to have an initial consultation. Ask your designer if they are available by chat, email, or phone, and ask what hours are acceptable to contact them. Some designers do not work normal business hours. For example, I work from 5 am until 7 am, get my kids fed, clothed, and ready for school, then work from 10 am until 2pm. Sometimes I work evenings. Sometimes I get up and work at 4 am. Every designer is different. Just remember that 8-5 is not the norm for some designers.
What if You’re Not Happy?
Not every designer-client relationship works out, and sometimes projects need to be “killed.” This simple means that work on the project ceases. Every designer has a slightly different policy, but most require a percentage of the project total to be paid, based on the amount of work already completed. Very few designers offer refunds, as they have already put in the work. If you are unhappy, some designers will offer you a free project of some sort – like a business card design or a web advertisement – but very few will actually refund your money. Keep this in mind as you weigh the pros and cons of killing your project. It may be worth it to just push through and be done.
I hope this article gives you a good idea of what to expect when you begin working with a designer. Please keep in mind that not all designers have the same work process. This is meant to be an overview of how some designers work.
Next in the series – That’s a Wrap! Finishing Your Project.